On 22 December 2006, festivities marking the New Year were held in the Hermitage Theatre for children with developmental problems. During the year, staff of the School Center and the Hermitage's Educational Department work with these children in the museum halls in a program that is called "Our Hermitage." Just before the New Year holidays, these children become artists, participating in theatrical presentations. The festivities are held in the splendid interiors of the court theatre founded by Empress Catherine the Great in the 18th century. The hall, which has a capacity of 300 spectators, is always filled with children, their teachers and parents. This year scenarios of the winter celebration were created around the motifs of the magical fairy tale Nutcracker by Hoffman and Cinderella by Perrault.

For several years now sponsorship support for the festivities has come from Baker&McKenzie, which provides gifts for the children.

Young artists

At the concert

A scene from the show

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